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John Parezo, Head Vocal Director
John Parezo is the head choir and show choir director at Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls, SD. In its short time as a school, the JHS choir department has already grown and seen tremendous success with curricular choirs, show choirs, ensembles and jazz choir. The JHS Concert Choir and Chorale have earned superior ratings at SDHSAA Large Group Contest each year and Legacy show choir has consistently placed in finals and has earned at least one grand championship title each year.
Parezo is currently the All State Show Choir Chair for the South Dakota High School Activities Association and President of the SD Region II Music Association. He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. He has previously served as NC-ACDA Middle Level Men’s Honor Choir Co-Chair and as Technology Chair for the SD chapter of the ACDA. Parezo was named Roosevelt High School Assistant Director of the Year for both the 2016-17 and 2018-19 school years. He was the 2017 SD-ACDA Overture Award recipient - an award given to outstanding choral directors in their first five years of teaching.
Parezo holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from South Dakota State University and is currently pursuing a masters degree in music education through the University of South Dakota.
Parezo is currently the All State Show Choir Chair for the South Dakota High School Activities Association and President of the SD Region II Music Association. He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. He has previously served as NC-ACDA Middle Level Men’s Honor Choir Co-Chair and as Technology Chair for the SD chapter of the ACDA. Parezo was named Roosevelt High School Assistant Director of the Year for both the 2016-17 and 2018-19 school years. He was the 2017 SD-ACDA Overture Award recipient - an award given to outstanding choral directors in their first five years of teaching.
Parezo holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from South Dakota State University and is currently pursuing a masters degree in music education through the University of South Dakota.
Rebecca Hiigel, Assistant Vocal Director
Rebecca Hiigel graduated from the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago, IL with a degree in French Horn Performance and Music Education. Through her studies, she earned her certification to teach K-12 Vocal and Instrumental music. Over the last 12 years, Ms. Hiigel has performed with many advanced choral groups including the DePaul Concert Choir and multiple honors choirs. Additionally, she took independent studies in vocal pedagogy with several of the private voice teachers at DePaul during her time there. She has performed in leading roles for many different musical theater productions in the Sioux Falls and Chicago communities.
While living in Chicago, Ms. Hiigel had the opportunity to teach at several urban and suburban schools in the greater Chicagoland area. She spent three years as a music teacher for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Once Upon a Symphony program, one year as an elementary vocal music teacher at Jahn Elementary School, and half a year at River Grove Middle School and Leyden High School in the western suburbs of Chicago. Most recently, Ms. Hiigel taught orchestra at Hayward Elementary and George McGovern Middle Schools, and served as the accompanist for the GMMS choir program.
Ms. Hiigel grew up in Sioux Falls and experienced the excellent fine arts program that this district has to offer - so she is excited to have a part in creating a new fine arts program in Sioux Falls!
While living in Chicago, Ms. Hiigel had the opportunity to teach at several urban and suburban schools in the greater Chicagoland area. She spent three years as a music teacher for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Once Upon a Symphony program, one year as an elementary vocal music teacher at Jahn Elementary School, and half a year at River Grove Middle School and Leyden High School in the western suburbs of Chicago. Most recently, Ms. Hiigel taught orchestra at Hayward Elementary and George McGovern Middle Schools, and served as the accompanist for the GMMS choir program.
Ms. Hiigel grew up in Sioux Falls and experienced the excellent fine arts program that this district has to offer - so she is excited to have a part in creating a new fine arts program in Sioux Falls!